Pressure control apparatus



July 23, 1935. c. w. DAwsoN PRESSURE CONTROL AFPARATUS Original Filed April 4, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l gru/vento@ July 23, 1935. Q w, DAWSON 2,008,685

PRESSUREl CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed April 4, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIE] 11| Illum- 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 C. W. DAWSON PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS original Filed April 4, 1928 July 23, 1935.

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atl/'omvang .July 23, 1935.. C, W, DAWSQN 2,@8,585

PRE S SURE CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed April 4, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 23, 1935. Q W DAWSON 2,008,685

PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed April 4, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sum/vm,

Patented July 23, 1935 efr-ies i PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS Charles W. Dawson, Dayton, Ohio,

Aspiration April 4, 192s, serial No. 67,305l Renewed October 23, 1934 l 13 Claims.

This invention relates to' apparatus for automatically controlling the pressure of fluid, either liquid or gaseous, and is particularly adapted for use in connection with apparatus employed Jfor supplying air at deiinite pressures to automobile tires and the like.

One object of the invention is the provision of a dependable apparatus of this character which can be quickly set to produce a desired pressure, and having a valve automatically regulated in a novel manner so that the supply of iluid is cut off when Vthe desired pressure is reached.

A further object is the provision of an apparatus of this character having provisions for maintaining the` valve which controlsl the supply of iiuid either fully opened or fully closed so that air may be rapidly supplied whenthe valve is fully opened and then'quickly cut off when the desired pressure is attained.

Other objects and advantagesof the invention will be apparent from the-following description and from the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. l is a front elevation of a pressure-limiting fluid-supply apparatus embodying the present invention, showing the parts in valve-closed position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. j i

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, partly in vertical section;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation showing the valve in section, the parts being positioned in valve-open position; f

Fig. 5 is a detail front elevation of the holding and latching means, the parts being arranged so.

that the valve is just ready to open;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the lower portion of the pressure-limiting apparatus, showing the circuit closer, the electrical circuit which it controls being shown diagrammatically;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation showing the pressurelimiting a} :xparatusY supported in an enclosing caslrlg; f

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through a modied form of a pressure-responsive means; and

Fig. 9 is a frontelevation of a modified form of construction, embodying the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

the present invention embodies a valve housing lil` to which inlet and outlet pipes or conduits l l and l2 are connected. Two outlet pipes l2 and l2 are shown, onel l2 connected tothe rear of valve housing and another l2 to the bottom Vportion thereof, either ol which may be used as Vdesired (ci. sgi- 5) to supply fluid at the proper pressure to a device tobe supplied or inilated. The inlet pipe l l leads to a suitable supply tank of fluid, the supply being maintained in any suitable manner at a pressure which is preferably substantially greater than the pressure to be supplied-through the outlet pipe or pipes l2. The outlet pipe l2, in the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed isV adapted to be connected to a suitable distributing hosehaving at its end the customary nipple valve. When-the nipple lvalve is .placed in position onV the valve stem oi. the tire to be inated to a derlnite air pressure. it will be understood that the valve stem in the nipple valve is moved to open position so that Vthe interior of the distributing hose is placed jincommunication with the tire. The apparatus of the present invention is designed to automatically supply air tothe tire until the desired air pressure is attained, and then to cut ofi the 'supply of air by meansof an automatically operated valve which controls communication between the inlet pipe l l and the outlet pipe I2. This automatic valve, designated generally i4, preferably comprises a removable valve casing l5 which is threaded within the inlet passage of the valve housing. Within the casingV l5 is the valve Vmember I6, preferably of conical form so that it may seat within the aperture l? at the end of the valve casing when the valve is in its clcsedvpcsition. A small compression spring i8 is preferably provided so as to exert a small force tending to close the valve. The valve member I6 is guided for reciprocatory movement within the cylindrical valve casing by means of a guide disk i9, this guide disk having cut-away peripheral portions providing free communication between opposite sides thereof. Y 2G is threaded within the end oi the valve casing to form an abutment against which one end of the spring IB presses. The entire valve assembly may be easily removed for the replacement either of the whole assembly, or of parts thereof. To maintain the vvalve member I6 centered within the valve casing the end of this member is exnded to form a guide pin or stem 2l, substantially smaller than the diameter of the orifice lil and this guide pin is freely guided within the end of a plunger 22 which is mounted for reciprocatory movement in the valve housing. The hole in the end of this plunger is suiliciently long so that the conical member 'lli may be pressed against the seat or orice Il by the spring i8 and by means of the pressure exerted on .the inlet side of the valve, when the plungerV 22 is in its retracted or outward position. When the plunger however is A retaining cap pressed towards the valve the guide pin 2| is moved toward the right, see Fig. 4, and the conical member IS is thus forced away from its seat to place the inlet and outlet pipe in communication.

On the outlet side of the valve the valve housing is provided with a chamber 25, this chamber being in communication with the outlet pipe I2 at all times. Referring now to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the valve housing I is provided with a pressure-responsive means 26, herein shown as comprising a piston 2l reciprocally mounted in a bushing 28, which is threaded in a suitable recess at the upper end of the valve housing, so that it may be easily removed if desired. On the lower end of the piston is fastened a flexible washer 23 of leather or other suitablermaterial having a cylindrical flange engaging the inside of the bushing 28 toprevent air from leaking between the bushing and the piston. The washer is held on the bottom of the piston by means of a retainer 3S through the `center vof which passes a retainer screw 3l which is threaded-in the center of the piston. This retainer 30 is smaller in diameter at its upper `portions than the inside distance across the washer ilange so that space is provided within the washer flange for an expansible leaf spring 32 which is designed to press outwardly on the flange of the washer to maintain the washer against the inner cylindri cal surface of the bushing v28. The lower end of the retainer 35 serves to retain the leaf spring 32 in position within the washer,`this lower end being preferably square or triangular so that the inside of the washer adjacent the spring 32 is always in 'free communication and equalized with the pressure -oi the air below the piston. This 'piston is thus in communication 'with the chamber 25 so that the position `of Ythe piston will be governed 'by the pressure in the chamber.

Extending upwardly vfrom lthe top of the valve housing it are a pair of supporting arms 35, between which extend pivot'pinvs 3l. These pivot pins pass through a fulcrum member or frame k3G, in which is slidably mounted a rack bar or lever having rack teeth for a purpose which will -be presently described. The fulcrum iframe is received between the two supporting arms 35 for pivotal or oscillatory movement about the pins 3l, and as the rack bar 3B ts Within the iulcrum frame with a running or sliding fit it will be understood that the rack is also mounted for pivotal movement about the pins 3l. Carried on the outer end oi the rack '33 is a Weight 40, a screw fil threaded lin the weight being adapted to engage at its inner end with the Ibottom of the rack or lever 39 to hold theweight in a definite position thereon. The weight thus serves to normally hold the yrack lever vin the position shown in Fig. 4. In this position a stop pin 43 carried by the top of the iulcrum frame 38 rests Aon top of va bifurcated lug 44 the bifurcations of which slidingly embrace the iulcruin frame 38. The lower end of this lug 414 is con.w nected to the top of the piston '21 so that as the piston is moved upwardly Within the bushing E8 the engagement between the bifurcated lug 44 and the stop pin 43 will cause a corresponding movement of the weighted leveror rack .39 about its pivotal mounting. 'The Weight, its .supporting rack, and the fulcrum mounting together `constitute a weighing means against which `the pressure on Athe pressure-responsive means or piston is balanced, the `pressure on'the piston by reason of the compression of the air Within the cham* in adjusted position by a lock nut ber 25 acting upwardly on the piston against the force oi the weight Normally the weight Si? acts to hold the piston down to a lowered posi-- tion in the bushing when the valve iii is closed. When the valve I4 is open and air is being rapidly supplied under considerable pressure to the chamber 25, the piston is forced upwardly so as to raise the weight until the weight assumes the position shown in Fig. 3, where the fulerum frame 3B abuts against an adjustable stop screw 4S adjustably mounted at one side of the piston Ycylinder on the valve housing.

Pivotally mounted on a` screw [i8 in a bracket it!! of the valve housing is a bell-crank lever 5S. This lever has a depending arm 5i which carries an adjustable set-screw 52 adapted to be locked The end of this screw is adapted to engage the end of the plunger 22 which extends out beyond the valve housing as shown in Figs. l and 4. The Alever 5=3 also embodies a horizontal arm 54 which is operated automatically to move the plunger 22 inwardly and unseat the valve member or to release the plunger 22 so that the pressure of th air in the inlet side oi the valve may cause the seating of the valve and the outward movement of this plunger.

Carried on a pivot pin 5t which projects from one of the supporting arms 35 is a pivoted weighted lever 5l which carries at its end a weight 53 adapted to be fastened in proper position by means of a set-screw 59. The lever 51 is provided with an arm 60 which extends from the fulcrum pin '56 in such a manner as to be engageable with a pin 6| provided on an upwardly extending ear 62 on the arm 54 of the bell-crank lever. When downward (clockwise) movement Vof the Weighted member 57 is permitted it will be understood that the arm 53 pressing upwardly on the pin 5i causes the counterclockwise movement of the bell-crank le- -ver to effect the opening of the valve. However holding means are provided to prevent the `opening ofthe valve, and to prevent the weighted lever 5:1 from operating the bell-crank lever 5D until the weighted rack lever 39 and the pressure-responsive means 26 reach a normal position with the weight lowered and with the piston v2-'1 at the lower end of its range of movement. This holding means comprises a pivoted holding lever 65 which is mounted for oscillatory movement -on a fulcrum pin 65 which projects vfrom the Valve housing i0. This holding lever is provided with a nose 6l which rides on the upper surface 68 of the end of the arm 55 so that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l the movements of the bell-crank lever 58 in a direction to effect the opening of the valve, are prevented.

Pivoted on the holding lever 65 by means of a small pivot pin 69 is a small detent lever 10. This detent lever 13 has an outturned Vprojec- -tion "Il which engages the intermediate portion of the lever 65 as shown in Fig. 1, the projection L'Il being Yengaged by a wire spring 'l2 which -exerts a pull on detent lever 10 and through the latter on the lever 65 tending to move them in `a counterclockwise direction. Both the lever 55 and the detent lever 'i0 will be swung towards the left or counterclockwise when permitted to do'so, but the spring held detent lever 10 at times iis restrained by a detent 13 carried .on a depending arm 'M which is rigid with the fulcrum :frame or mounting 38 of the weighted rack lever. Referring now to Fig. 4 Vit will be seen that the detent 13 engages the end or tail i5 of the detent lever as the Weighted rack and its vfulcrum mounting are moved upwardly or counterclockwise about the pivot pin 3l. During the upward movement of the weighted rack lever the detent lever l@ is swung about its pivotal mounting 69 and this prevents the spring l2 from exerting any pull upon the holding lever 65 so that this holding lever remains in the ineffective position shown in Fig. i until the detent i3 frees the detent lever. Fig. 5 shows the positions of the parts just after the detent frees the detent lever and here it will be noticed that the spring 12 has moved the holding lever te from the depression il in the end of the arm 5@ to a higher position on the lever to one side of this depression, the arm 5e having been moved to? lowered position, and the lever et thus` holds the lever 54 in valve-closed position. The bell-crank lever 5) is held in valve-closed position now by the nose Bl engaging the upper side oi the arm 54, the detent T3 eectively preventing clockwise movementof the holding lever te. rIhe detent 'i3 has an effective surface which is substantially a portion of an arc of which the pivotal fulcrurn mounting 3i' is the center, so that the detent, as shown in Fig. l, is effective in holding lever 55 inV holding position, the valve being so that the detent 'i3 is clear of theend 'it of the detent lever the valve may be opened, and` as the arm 54 of the bell-crank lever is moved upwardly the upper surface o the end of the arm liliu cams the holding lever Q5 towards the right and the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 4. Y

The weighted member 51 is moved upwardly to a substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. l by means of a pin or projection i@ provided on the depending arm M of the fulcrum frame 33. This pin 'E9 extends out beyond the lower surface of therwei'ghted member 5l which is thus carried along'with it to a raised position. A stop pin a fixed in position on one of the supporting arms 35 is preferably provided for limiting the upward movements of the weighted member 51 as shown in Fig. l.

Sc lar as the device has been explained the operation is as follows:

The distributing or outlet pipe i2 is placed in communication with the interior of the tire or other device to be pumped up, and initially having say thirty pounds per square inch pressure, and let us assume for example that the weighted arm '59 exerts a pressure on the top of the pressure-responsivemeans 263 to just balance a pressure of fty pounds per square inch in the charnber 25. The chamber being in communication with the interior of the tire at thirty pounds per square inch pressure, the weighted arm will be in its down position as sho-wn in Fig. i since the pressure on the bottom oi the pressure-responsive means is less than that required to balance the weight 36. 1n this position or" the weight the detent 'E3 is in a position `which does not interfere with the clockwise movement oi the holding lever 65 and consequently the nose 5l' of this lever vmay be received in the depression l? of the bellrank arm 56, The bell-crank lever -has therefore assumed a valve-open position,ithe bell-crank having been moved in a counter-clockwise direction by the weighted member The plunger 22 is in its depressed position holding the-valvey i4 open, and air is being'supplied from the source or storage tank under high pressure to the chamber 25 and tothe distributing pipe l2 connected to the tire. When the pressure within the chamber 25 reaches fifty pounds per square inch the pressure on the bottom of the piston 2i of the pressure-responsive means is suiicient to overcome the depressive force exerted by the weighted lever 3G and the'piston rises to the position shown in l3, forcing the weight upwardly against the action of gravity about the fulcrum point Si. rThis movement of the lever 3S raises the weighted lever or member 5i along with it, since the pin K 'F9 is below the bottom of this lever 5l. The force o-f lever 5l?l on the pin @l is thus removed. The upward movement of the detent 'i3 duri-ng this time has freed the holding member E55 so that this holding lever can assume the position shown in Fig. 4 corresponding to valve-open position. The valve is thus closed at a pressure of iiity pounds per square inch in the chamber 25. To maintain the valve fully open until the desired pressure is attained inthe chamber 25 a latch lever 8B is provided, this latch lever-being preferably mounted o-n the same pin et on which the holding lever E5 is mounted. This latch lever 8f3 is provided with a latching surface 3i which engages the projecting end Y320i" arm 54 ofthe bell-crank lever in the position of the parte shown in Fig. 4, so that clockwise movements oi the bellcrank lever are prevented and the valve is held fully open until the latch lever is moved counterclockwise to release the bell-crank lever. A wire spring 83 engages a stud 83 on the latch lever in such a way as to tend to cause clockwiserotation of the latch lever to latching position.

'i2 the two being ends of a one spring member which is wound about the pivot pin titi. Rigid with the latch lever 8@ is a releasing tail or trigger arm 85. Below the trigger arm the depending arm 'M of the fuicrum mounting 38 is Vprovided with an uniatching pin SS projecting therefrom so as to engage theunder side oi the trigger arm when the fulcrum mounting 35 has beenmoved a certain extent in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 4. Fig. l shows the trigger arm moved by the unlatching pin S6 to release the latching surfacev and permit the clockwise movement of the bell-crank'lever to permit the valve to close.

When pressure is being supplied through the outlet pipe l2 to a. tire or other device to be Jini-lated or to be supplied with air to a denite pressure of say fty pounds per square inch, the fall in pressure of the air in the chamber 25 when the tire is first connected to the outlet pipe I2 permits the pressure-responsive means to be lowered, and the weight 49 falls. This releases the holding means, which up to this time has been maintaining the bell-crank leverii) in such position as to permit the valve to remain closed. The release of the holding means permits the weighted member 51 to cause a counter-clockwise movement of the bell-crank lever to open the valve, the holding lever 65 duringr this operation being cammed towards the right where it is received in This spring 83 mayv iorm a continuation of the spring the recess 'li in the end of the arm 54. The valve curs the piston, `moving upwardly, raises .the

weight 40 so that the lever -39 extends substantially horizontally in its elevated position. During the elevation of the weight 4G the valve is maintained in open position by the latch 86, and the weighted member 5l is being moved upwardly by the pin 79. At the same time the unlatching pin 86 is being brought into engagement with the trigger arm 85. When the arm 31 reaches the limit of its upward movement the following operations occur in rapid succession. The latching lever Sii is moved to unlatching position permitting the bell-crank lever 5E) to move to valveclosed position. The detent 13 is freed from the tail of the detent lever so that the holding lever 85 moves in a counter-clockwise direction to holding position to maintain the valve closed, and prevent the weighted lever 5l from moving downwardly when the weighted lever 39 starts to move down. Due to the iact that the distribution or equalization of the pressure in the chamber 25 and in the tire cannot take place instantaneously the chamber 25 is rapidly supplied with air to attain the pressure of fifty pounds per square inch before the tire reaches this pressure. The valve is therefore automatically closed before the tire reaches the desired pressure. The air pressure then quickly equa-lines, the pressure within the chamber falling and the pressure-responsive means lowering to permit the downward movement of the weighted arm which, when it reaches its downward limit of movement as shown in Fig. Li, releases the holding means which has been maintaining the Valve closed, and the valve is again automatically opened. These operations take place in rapid succession the valve being maintained closed and maintained open lduring the time the weighted lever is moving from one extreme position to the other, and the movements of the` valve are thus eiected in a rapid manner to fully opened or fully closed positions. When the desired air pressure is reached in the tire and the' tire as well as the chamber 25 has attained a pressure of fifty pounds per square inch the weighted arm 3S is held in its elevated position as the pressure-responsive means is maintained in its uppermost position, and the valve is thus maintained closed. The operator can then disconnect the end of the distributing hose from the tire and if this distributing hose is provided with the customary valve at the coupling end, they pressure of iity pounds per square inch to which the device has previously been set is maintained in the chamber Z5 and in the dis:- tributing hose, the apparatus being maintained in the position shown in Fig. l. If `the distributing hose leaks slowly and the pressure in the chamber 25 rails the valve would be automatically opened to supply air tc this chamber until the pressure to which the device has been set is again attained.

It has Vbeen assumed that the weight of the arm 39 is sufiicient to balance a pressure of fifty pounds per square inch in the chamber 25. However this ligure has been used merely as an eX- .arnpleg and it is intended that the lever 39 will constitute a weighing means so that any desired air pressure can be supplied from the pressurelimiting apparatus. As shown the upper side of the lever 39 is provided with rack gear teeth which are engaged by a pinion 9@ rotatably mounted on a shaft Si provided in the supporting arms 35. This pinion d@ is manually rotated by a master gear S2 which is iixedas by means of a pin 93 to a control shaft 94. This control shaft is rotatably mounted in a bearing 95 proa slot vided in an upstanding support bracket 96 fastened to-the rear of the valve housing IG as'by means of suitable pins 9i and a screw 9S. The control shaft 94 projects forwardly and has iixed to it a control handle. 99. It will thus be apparent that the control handle may be manually rotated to move the master gear 92, and thereby rotate ythe pinion d@ to move the rack lever 39 in the direction of its length, and regulate the effective force of the weight lil against the pressure-responsivemeans of the apparatus without interference with the parts controlled by the fulcrum mounting or frame 58. Preferably the gear 92 supports a rotatable dial Idil bearing suitable indications lili which may show the number of pounds per square inch to which the apparatus is set, suitable supporting sleeves lil@ serving to fasten the gear 9'2 and the dial mi! together.. The dial markings cooperate with an index pointer 52 fixed to the upper portion of the support bracket Siti. En the positionpof the apparatus shown in Fig. l the weight i6 and the rack lever have been adjusted for a pressure of twenty-three pounds per square inch.

The pressure-limiting apparatus shown Fig. l is preferably enclosed in a suitable casing it@ so that the dial iil is visible through a window i535. The control handle is` positioned at the front of the casing where it may be easily accessible to the operator. As shown the casing lili?, is mounted on a suitable pedestal The valve casing it is provided with a bracket H0 carrying a screw il i on which is rotatably mounted a switch support. The switch support preferably comprises a strap ili or" insulating material having contact clips H3 and l!!!- adapted to receive the terminals oi aglass tube H5 in which .is a suitable quantity of mercury. The clips H3 and lid are electrically connected by means of suitable wiring ili in series with a battery Ill or other source of electrical energy, and a bell I IS which is adapted to give an audible indication when airis passing through the control valve, so that the operator may know that the device is functioning. i When the glass tube H5 is horizontally positioned an upward bulge H5 in the lower side of the tube separates the mercury into two different pools and interrupts the low of electricity from one contact terminal or clip to the other. bell, and this position of the circuit controller corresponds to a valve-closed position, as shown. A pin IEE! projecting from the rear of the depending arm 5! of the bell-crank lever, is received in i2! in the strap lill mounting, so that when the valve is moved to open position and the circuit closer tilted to the position shown in Fig. 4 the mercury can bridge the gap between the two pools while still maintaining contact with the terminal of the clip H3 to close the circuit through the bell and thus give an audible indication to the operator as long as the control valve is open. The operator will thus hear a series of rings one after the other as the device operates to supply air to a predetermined pressure to a tire or other apparatus, the rings stopping after the predetermined desired pressure is attained.

Fig. 8 represents a modified form of pressureresponsive means. `Tui this form of construction the piston is replaced by a plunger member 24 the upper end of which is constructed similarly to the upper end of the piston 2l' heretofore described. -The bottom of the plunger 26 is prei"- erably curved and rests against a flexible dia- This deenergizes the above its pivotal The diaphragm |25 is imperforate and is xed-at its terminal portions securely between a ledge E21 and the lower end ofjthe bushing |28. This bushing is screwed into the upper portion of ythe valve housing its in the same manner as in the embodiment of the invention rst described.

Fig. 9 illustrates a modified form lof construc- Y tion of the pressure-limiting apparatus. In principle however this modified construction is the same as in the form of my invention first described. As shown,v the valve housing |150, mounted upon a support 4 is provided with a springpressed valve |42 adapted to control communication rorn the inlet pipe or conduit |43 to the outlet pipe IM. The valve M2 embodies a valve member or plunger M5 which slides within a cylindrical vertical hole Miti in the valve housing. vThe valve member |45 has a peripheral groove |49 adapted to register with the inlet passage M1 and the outlet passage |48 whenthe` valve is in its lowered position and the spring l5@ is compressed. When the valve is in its raised position as shown in this figure the peripheral-groove |49 is out of registration of the inlet and outlet passages E41 and U58 and consequently at this time communication between these passages is interrupted, and the valve is closed. On the outlet side of the Valve, the valve housing is provided with a chamber |5| in the upper end or" which is a pressure-responsive member or piston |52 adapted to be raised by the pressure of the iiuid within the chamber. Ihe upper end of this piston 952 engages against the lower side of a'iulcrum mounting |53 which is pivoted at |54 on a bracket iii extending from the valve housing. Movably received within the fulcrum member 53 for movement in the direction of its length is a weighted lever |55 bearing at its end the weight i 51. This weight is fastened in place on the end of the lever lii by means of a suitable set screw H58. The upper end of the pressureresponsive means E52 Vthus balances againstv the downward force exerted by the Weight on the pivoted arm |56. The position of the lever |56 is adapted tobe regulated by means of a pinion Ie which engages the rack teeth it! on the upper side of the lever, the pinion |59 beingoperated from the master gear IGI which is manually rotated by suitable rotational movements of the shaft |52 on which this gear is fixed. Carried bythe gear is an indicating dial |53 bearing indications |64. adapted to cooperate with a fixed index |155. c

Pivotally mounted `on the valve housing is vra weighted member |18 carried by means of a screw |1| on this housing. YA stop pin |12 definitely limits clockwise movement of this member. YCarried on the outerend of this member |10 is a weight |13 iixed by means of a set-screw |14, VWeighted member |10 carries a projection |15 which bears against a square pin |16 carried by the upper end of the valve member |45 and projecting through a slot in the top of the valve housing. The weight on the member |10 is thus effective to cause downward movement of the pin |16 when permitted to do so to openthe valve andestablish communication between the'inlet and outlet pipes. Downward movementof this pin |16 however is normally prevented by a holding means |11 whichris pivoted o'na pin |18 provided on the valve housing insuch a manner as to cause a lip |19 on this holding means to be positioned below the pin |16, a spring |19a normally urging the holding lever |11 in( a clockwise direction.` Rigidrwith. the holding means |11 isa detent arm |80* which is moved downwardly to retract the lip |19l from beneath the pin |16 by means of `a pin |8| provided on the fulcrum mounting |53. This pin |8| is also engageable with atrigger arm |83 whichis rigid with a latch |84 having a 'lipY |85 adapted-to be moved over theitop of the square pin |15 to hold the valve in valve-open position, v Y

Whenthe weight .|51 is elevated by the pressure within the chamber |5|, effective through the pressure-responsive means, a pin |85 on the fulcrum mounting 53 engages a cam surface |81 on the rweighted. member I1@ to raise this` partto the position shown in Fig. 9. The same` movement causes a counter-clockwise movement of the fulcrum mounting` |53 and the pin I8! thereforereleases the detent arm |85 so that the holding means |11 may be moved to holding position to maintain the valve closed. The upward movement of the pin |8| was also effective against the trigger arm |33 to swing the latch lever |84 away from a latching position above the square pin |18 and thus permit the valve to be closed Aby the vpressure of the valve spring.

modiiied form of construction is substantially the same as for the vform oi construction first de-A scribed. The valve is maintained fully opened'or fully closed by means of the latch lever and the holding means respectively until the weighted lever ISS substantially reaches the ends of its normal range of movement about its pivotal support, and the valve is then quickly adjusted and maintained in its adjusted Vposition until again It will be apparent that the operationof this operated by a ,reversey movement of the Weighting means.

ki/Vhile' the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is tobe understcodthat the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus. and vthat changes may be made therein without departing from the scope o-f the invention whichY is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1 'In a pressure-limiting fluid-supply apparatus, a housing having inlet and outletv fluid conduits, a valve adapted to control communication between said inlet and outlet conduits, said housing having a chamber on the outlet side of said valve, pressure-responsive means adapted to be automatically positioned in accordance with the fluid pressure insaid chamber, a weighted lever l restraining the movements of -said pressure-responsive'means, manually operated mechanism `foi-.adjusting the effect of said weighted'lever on said pressure-responsive means, a weighted member. ,an operable connection between said member and said valve, holding means for preventing operation of said connection by said weighted member, and an operable connection between said holding means and said weighted lever for quickly releasing v the holding means at a predetermined pressure in saidy chamber, means controlled by said weighted'lever for latching said operating connection in valve-open position until the 'pressure .in said chamber rises to an amount slightly greater than said predetermined pressure.

Ina pressure-limitingfluid-supply apparatus, inlet and outlet iluid conduits, a valve adapted to control communication between said inlet and outlet conduits, pressure-responsive means adapted to be positioned in accordance with the fluid pressure on the outlet side of said valve, a gravity member restraining the movements of said pressure-responsive means, manually operated mechanism for adjusting the eiiect of said gravity member on said pressure-responsive means, a pivoted member, an operable connection between said pivoted member and said valve, holding means for preventing operation of said pivoted member, and a detent on said gravity member for releasing the holding meansat a predetermined position of said gravity member, means controlled by said gravity member for holding said operating connection in valve-open position until the pressure on the outlet side of the valve rises to a predetermined amount, said last means comprising a pivoted latch movable to latching position to prevent closing movements of the valve, a trigger arm carried by said latch, and a projection on said gravity member engageable with said trigger arm to release said latch when the gravity member attains a predetermined positioning at the end of its movement.

3. In a pressure-limiting Huid-supply apparatus, inlet and outlet fluid conduits, a valve adapted to control communication between said inlet and outlet conduits, pressure-responsive means adapted to be positioned in accordance with the iluid pressure on the outlet side of said valve, a weighted lever for restraining the movements of said pressure-responsive means, a manually operated mechanism for adjusting the eiect of said weighted lever on said pressure-responsive means, a pivotally mounted Weighted member, an operable connection between said weighted member and said valve, holding means for preventing operation of said weighted member, a detent on said weighted lever for releasing the holding means at a predetermined position of said weighted lever, means controlled by said weighted lever for holding said operating connection in valve-open position until the pressure on the outlet side of the valve rises above a Apredetermined value, said lastnamed means comprising a pivoted latch movable to latching position to prevent closing movements of the valve, a trigger arm carried by said latch, and a projection on said weighted lever engageable with said trigger arm to release said latch when the Weighted lever reaches the limit of its downward movement.

4. In a pressure-limiting fluid-supply apparatus, a housing having inlet and outlet fluid conduits, a valve adapted to control communication between said inlet and outlet conduits, pressureresponsive means adapted to be automatically positioned in accordance with the fluid pressure on the outlet side of the valve, a weighted lever reil straining the movements of said pressure-'responsive means, said lever comprising a rack bearing a weight at one end, a fulcrum mounting for said rack in which said rack is slidably mounted, a manually operated gear engaging said rack for adjusting the effective length of said lever, and means carried by said fulcrum mounting for quickly moving said valve to fully open and fully closed positions at the limits of movement of said lever.

5. A pressure limiting uid supply apparatus including a casing having an inlet andan outlet, a valve in said casing for controlling the flow of valve in the fully open position, means for `lockattacca ing said valve iii the fully closed position, a pres'- s'ure responsive device including a reciprocating member, means movable with said reciprocating member and operable at one end oi the stroke of said reciprocating' member for releasing said firs-t named locking means and means movable with said reciprocating member and operable at the other end of the stroke of said reciprocating member for releasing the second named locking means, means for quickly opening said valve upon the release oi said nrst mentioned locking means and means for quickly' closing said valve upon the release or said second named locking means.

6. A pressure limiting iiuid supply apparatus including a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a valve in said casing for controlling the flow of fluid through said casing, means for locking said valve in the fully open position, means for locking said valve in the fully closed position, a pressure responsive device including reciprocating member, meansmovable with said reciprocating member at one end of the stroke of said reciprocating member for releasing said nrst named locking means and means movable with said reciprocating member and operable at the other end of the stroke of said reciprocating member for releasing said second named locking means, means for quickly opening said valve upon the release of said first mentioned locking means and means for quickly closing said valve upon the release of said second named locking means and means for adjusting the effect of said pressure responsive means whereby the pressure at which said valve will open and close may be varied. I '7. A pressure limiting fluid supply apparatus including a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a valve in said casing for controlling 'the iiow of iiuid through said casing, means'for locking said valve in the fully open position, means for locking said valve in the fully closed position, a pressure responsive device including a reciprocating member, means movable with said reciprocating member and operable at one end of the stroke of said reciprocating member for releasing said rst named locking means and means movable with said reciprocating member and operable at the other end of the stroke of said reciprocating member for releasing the second named locking means, means for quickly opening said valve upon the release of said irst mentioned locking means and means for quickly closing said valve upon the release of said second named locking means and means for adjusting the effectof said pressure responsive means whereby the pressure at which said valve will open and close may oe varied. and means for regulating the degree of opening of said valve.

8. A pressure limiting fluid supply apparatus including a casing having'an inlet Vand an outlet, a valve in said casing for controlling the flow of uid through said casing, means for locking said valve in the fully open position, means for locking said valve in the fully closed position, a pressure responsive device including a reciprocating member, means movable with said reciprocating member and operable at one end of the stroke of said reciprocating member for releasing said first named locking means and vmeans movable with said reciprocating member and operable at the other end of the stroke of saidl reciprocating I'riernberV for releasing the second named locking means, means for quickly opening said valve upon therelease of said first mentioned locking means and means for quickly closing* said valve upon the release of said second named locking means, an

electric circuit containing a signaling device, a circuit closer on said apparatus, and means for automatically operating said circuit closer to make and break the electric circuit as the valve moves to open and closed positions.

9. A pressure limiting iiuid supply apparatus including means for controlling ,the supply of fluid, means for locking said controlling means in the fully open position, means for locking'said controlling means in the fully closedposition, a

pressure responsive device including a reciprocat-l ing member, means movable With said reciprocating member and operable at one end of the stroke of said reciprocating member for releasing said rst named locking means and means movableV ith said reciprocating member and operable at the other end oi the stroke of said reciprocating member for releasing said second named locking means, means for quickly opening said control means upon the release of said iirst mentioned locking means and Ameans rfor quickly closing said control means upon therelease of said second named locking means.

10. A pressure limiting iiuid supply apparatus including means for controllingl the supply of fluid, means `for locking said control means in the fully open position, means for locking said control means in the fully closed position, a pressure responsive device including a reciprocating member, means movable with said reciprocating member and operable at one end of the stroke of said reciprocating member for releasing said first named locking means and means movable with said reciprocating member and operable at the other end of the stroke of said reciprocating member for releasing said second named locking means, means for quicldy opening said control means upon the release of said rst mentioned locking means and means for quickly closing said control means upon the release of said second named locking means and means for adjusting the effect or" said pressure responsive means whereby the pressure at Which said control means will open and close may be varied.

l1. A pressure limiting fluid supply apparatus including a means for controlling the supply of fluid, means for locking said control means in the fully open position, means for locking said control in the iully closed position, a pressure responsive device including a reciprocating member, means movable with said reciprocating member and operable at one end of the stroke of said reciprocating member for releasing said first named locking means and means movable with said reciprocating member and operable at the other end of the stroke or" said reciprocating member for releasing the second named locking means, means for quickly opening said control means upon the release of said rst mentioned locking means and means for quickly closing said control means on the release of said second named locking means and means for adjusting the eiect of said pressure responsive vmeans whereby the pressure at which said control means Will open and close may be varied and means for regulating the degree of opening of said control means. l

12. A pressure limiting fluid supply apparatus including means for controlling the supply of iluid, means for locking said control means in the fully opened position, means for locking said control means in the fully closed position, a pressure responsive device including a reciprocating member, means movable with said reciprocating member and operable at one end of the stroke of said reciprocating member for releasing said first named locking means and means movable with said reciprocating member andA operable at the other end of the stroke of said reciprocating member for releasing the second named locking means means for quickly opening said control means upon the release of said rst mentioned locking means'and means for quickly closing said control means upon the release of said second named locking means, an electric circuit containing a signaling device, a circuit closer on said apparatus, and means for automatically operating said circuit closer to make and break the electric circuit after the control means moves to the opened and closed position.

13. A pressure limiting :duid supply apparatus including means for controlling the supply of iluid, a pressureresponsive device, an operable connection between said pressure responsive device and said controlling means for quickly actuating said control means in one direction when the pressure reaches a predetermined value and quickly actuating said control means in the other directionwhen another predetermined pressure value is reached, locking means for positively preventing the actuation of said control means in said one direction until said predetermined pressure value is reached,y locking means for positively preventing the actuation oiA said controlvling means in said other direction until said other predetermined pressure value is reached, and means movable with said pressure responsive device for unlocking said first mentioned locking means, and means movable with said pressure responsive device for unlocking said second named locking means.

CHARLES W. DAWSON.

Cir 

